72 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



England, having arrived, I made preparations for 

 my return, but not before I had requested both 

 Companies to send, next year, from the depots a 

 quantity of goods for our use, specified in lists 

 furnished to them. 



" The weather, during my abode at Chipewyan, 

 was generally mild, with occasional heavy storms, 

 most of which were anticipated by the activity of 

 the Aurora Borealis ; and this I observed had 

 been the case between Fort Providence and the 

 Athabasca in December and January, though not 

 invariably so in other parts of the country. One of 

 tlie partners of the North-West Company related 

 to me the following singular story : — ' He was 

 travelUng in a canoe in the English River, and 

 had landed near the Kettle Fall, when the corus- 

 cations of the Aurora Borealis were so vivid and 

 low, that the Canadians fell on their faces, and 

 began praying and crying, fearing they should 

 be killed ; he liimself threw away his gun and 

 knife, that they might not attract the flashes, for 

 they were within two feet from the earth, flitting 

 along with incredible swiftness, and moving 

 parallel to its surface. They continued for up- 

 wards of five minutes, as near as he could judge, 

 and made a loud rustling noise, like the waving of 

 a flag in a strong breeze. After they had ceased, 

 the sky became clear, with little wind.' 



